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DC FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributorFaculty of Humanitiesen_US
dc.contributor.advisorLiu, Ming (CBS)en_US
dc.creatorWang, Ziqian-
dc.identifier.urihttps://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/13573-
dc.languageEnglishen_US
dc.publisherHong Kong Polytechnic Universityen_US
dc.rightsAll rights reserveden_US
dc.titleGender representations in China daily : a corpus-assisted discourse studyen_US
dcterms.abstractThis research gives a corpus-assisted discourse study (CADS) of gender representations in China Daily from 2001 to 2020. The first two decades of the 21st century of China were marked by intensified socialist marketization and globalization. Existing studies on gender representation in Chinese media predominantly analyze the changing gender images in response to sociopolitical shifts through content analysis. However, less attention is given to how these gender images are shaped by linguistic choices at various levels and how these patterns unveil the interconnected relationships between gender ideologies, power dynamics, and the broader socio-political context.en_US
dcterms.abstractUtilizing theories and methods from corpus linguistics and critical discourse analysis, this study examines gender representations in China Daily from both synchronic and diachronic perspectives. The analytical framework relies primarily on the three-dimensional analysis in the discourse-historical approach (DHA) (Wodak, 2001), supplemented by tools from van Leeuwen's social actor representation system (1996, 2008) and concepts from systemic functional grammar (Halliday, 1994). Methods from corpus linguistics (e.g., frequency, collocation, concordance) and quantitative content analysis (e.g., co-occurrent network) facilitated by computer-assisted tools (i.e., Sketch Engine and KH Coder) are employed to identify significant linguistic patterns in the corpus and sub-corpora.en_US
dcterms.abstractThe findings from the synchronic perspective suggest that Chinese women are prominently featured in discourses related to fertility, marriage, and empowerment. The corpus overtly addresses women's binary roles between career and family, portraying females as less valuable and competent than their male counterparts in certain occupations. The over-representation of female modifier preceding occupational terms also implies existing gender segregation in contemporary Chinese workplaces. Conversely, Chinese men are prominently discussed in discourses related to crimes and violence, and depicted as important and capable even in female-dominated occupational sectors.en_US
dcterms.abstractDiachronically, women are more prominently represented in discourse related to individualization. They are portrayed as more financially independent, better employed, better-educated, more capable, and possessing more choices, suggesting an improvement in their socioeconomic status over time. For men, a noticeable trend is their increasing representation in violent discourse. Also, they are consistently collocated with lexical items associated with wealth, homosexuality, and male superiority. The evolving representations of Chinese women and men in China Daily reflect the rapid marketization and urbanization in China and their intricate relationship with traditional Confucian ideologies and patriarchal systems. Despite the persistence of traditional values, women in China are increasingly portrayed in a more progressive manner over the years. Linguistic evidence also indicates a trend toward reducing gender segregation in Chinese occupations, suggesting progress in workplace equality to a certain extent. However, it is essential to note that social biases towards female occupations and workplace discrimination against women, especially pregnant women, still persist, warranting further attention from both the government and society.en_US
dcterms.abstractThe implications of this research extend to promoting fairer gender representation in media communication, which contributes to a more equitable society. Additionally, the data in the corpora reveal how the external social environment can impact the use of specific lexical items, highlighting the intricate relationship between language and society.en_US
dcterms.extentxiv, 319 pages : color illustrationsen_US
dcterms.isPartOfPolyU Electronic Thesesen_US
dcterms.issued2024en_US
dcterms.educationalLevelDALSen_US
dcterms.educationalLevelAll Doctorateen_US
dcterms.LCSHChinese newspapers -- Languageen_US
dcterms.LCSHDiscourse analysisen_US
dcterms.LCSHSex role -- Press coverage -- Chinaen_US
dcterms.LCSHGender identity in mass mediaen_US
dcterms.LCSHHong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertationsen_US
dcterms.accessRightsrestricted accessen_US

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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/13573